In any screen printing shop, the squeegee is your most used tool—and often the most neglected. A well-maintained squeegee ensures consistent ink deposit, sharp registration, and less physical strain on the printer. Follow these professional maintenance tips from the Lawson lab to get the most out of your equipment.
1. The Power of Rotation
One of the biggest mistakes manual printers make is using the same squeegee all day. Squeegee rubber has "memory." After several hours of printing, the rubber absorbs a small amount of chemicals and friction-heat, causing it to lose its edge.
- Pro Tip: Rotate your Manual Wood Squeegees every 2–4 hours. This allows the rubber to "rest" and return to its original shape and hardness.
2. Don’t Let Ink Sit
Plastisol and water-based inks can eventually degrade the polyurethane in your blades if left for days.
- Action: Always wipe down your blades at the end of every shift. Use a specialized PW-305 Press Wash, Air-Lay HD Bulk Wipes to remove residue without drying out the rubber.
3. Mastering the Edge
A dull or rounded squeegee edge results in "blurry" prints and heavy, uncontrolled ink deposits. You don't always need to buy new rubber—you can often restore the factory edge.
- Manual Polishing: For minor nicks, use a Diamond-Fine Squeegee Edge Polisher.
- Automated Precision: For high-volume shops, the EZ Auto-Sharp ensures a perfectly perpendicular edge every time, potentially doubling the lifespan of your 70 Durometer blades.
4. Storage Matters
Never store squeegees with the blade resting on a surface. This creates permanent "flat spots" or bows in the rubber.
- The Right Way: Store them vertically in a rack or on their side so the rubber edge is suspended in the air.
Lawson EZ Auto-Sharp Squeegee Sharpener Overview